Following constructive engagement between the (UFS) Executive Management Committee (Exco) and student leadership structures, an agreement was reached on the phasing out of provisional registration.
This comes after protests and incidents of arson and violence on the Qwaqwa Campus on 13 October that led to damage to property including buildings and vehicles. Two staff members were assaulted, one student was injured, and 37 security officers were injured, two of whom were admitted to the intensive care unit. Following a safety risk assessment, the Qwaqwa Campus was closed on 14 October and students were requested to temporarily vacate university residences within 24 hours.
Students were subsequently allowed to return to the Qwaqwa Campus from 22 October after safety was restored and the campus was secured.
Lacea Loader, senior director of communications and marketing at the UFS, said the university deeply regrets these events and continues to provide support to the affected staff.
The protests came after the UFS reviewed the provisional registration process and found that it no longer serves its original intended purpose, namely, to allow academically deserving but financially constrained students to continue their studies while making plans to settle outstanding debt.
“As a result of the review, it became clear that modifications needed to be made expeditiously and that a fairer, equitable, and financially sustainable support system for students should be implemented,” Loader said in a news statement.
Loader said the decision to phase out provisional registration – approved by the UFS Council on 26 September – addresses the financial pressures facing both students and the institution, while carrying forward the university’s values of care and social justice in a format that is more beneficial to students.
The university’s Exco, the Institutional Student Representative Council, and the Campus Student Representative Councils have jointly agreed on a phased implementation of Council’s decision, to phase out provisional registration over two years in 2026-2027. This will allow concessions for students with outstanding debt, and ensure that all registered students have access to their official academic records. This agreement confirms the Council’s decision to bring an end to provisional registration. As of 1 January 2028, all students will be fully registered.
“The university extends its appreciation to staff, students, and all stakeholders for their patience, commitment, and resilience during this challenging period. The UFS is focused on the successful completion of the 2025 academic year and looks forward to continuing constructive engagement with student leadership and the broader university community,” Loader said.
